National parks in West Virginia offer visitors spectacular natural beauty and unforgettable outdoor experiences in the heart of the Appalachian Mountains. The crown jewel, New River Gorge National Park and Preserve, features breathtaking cliffs, scenic river views, and world-class rock climbing and whitewater rafting opportunities. Visitors can hike miles of trails, explore historic towns, and enjoy stunning overlooks that showcase the rugged landscape. Additionally, sites like Harpers Ferry National Historical Park combine rich history with picturesque surroundings, providing a unique blend of cultural and natural attractions. Whether you’re seeking adventure, history, or peaceful nature escapes, West Virginia’s national parks deliver memorable experiences for every traveler.
Summer operating hours at the newly dedicated New River Gorge National Park and Preserve will go into effect on June 12, and park officials are recommending visitors plan ahead as crowds are expected. Park superintendent Lizzie Watts said the park’s conversion from a “national river” to a “national park” has dramatically increased visitation, and visitors … Read more
Smoke and flame rising from the central region of America’s newest national park later this spring should not be cause for concern, park officials say. Fire managers with the New River Gorge National Park and Preserve in southern West Virginia plan to burn approximately 40 acres sometime between April 17 and May 31 in the … Read more
The New River Gorge in southern West Virginia is set to become a national park, U.S. Senators Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) announced today. To be designated the “New River Gorge National Park and Preserve,” the present New River Gorge National River will become the 63rd national park in the U.S. as … Read more
The National Park Service will temporarily close its restrooms and campgrounds on the New, Gauley, and Bluestone rivers in southern West Virginia in response to the COVID-10 outbreak. Park Superintendent Lizzie Watts announced that those facilities will be shuttered throughout New River Gorge National Park and Preserve, the Gauley River National Recreation Area, and the … Read more
Officials at the New River Gorge National Park and Preserve in West Virginia will temporarily close the Canyon Rim Visitor Center, its primary visitor contact facility, as a result of the covid-19 outbreak. The measure was taken in response to the latest state, local, and federal guidance promoting social distancing to slow the spread of … Read more
National Park Service officials may consider shuttling hikers and visitors between Harpers Ferry and Maryland Heights while a bridge over the Potomac River there is being repaired. Damaged by a train derailment in December, a pedestrian footbridge that linked the national park with recreational resources in Maryland may require extensive repairs and no date for … Read more
Access to one of the most important mining heritage sites in the U.S. will reopen again soon, though officials have no timeline for restoration of the route there, which was practically destroyed after flooding in 2016. The road has been officially closed while the engineers repair priority routes damaged by the flood, to the dismay … Read more
Harpers Ferry National Historical Park will increase its entrance fees on January 1, 2020, as part of the National Park Service’s ongoing efforts to address infrastructure needs and improve future visitor experiences. All money collected from entrance fees remains in the National Park Service, with at least 80 percent retained locally at Harpers Ferry, West … Read more
One of America’s favorite hiking trails will be closed weekdays through mid-October while diseased trees are removed, according to officials from the National Park Service. Starting Monday, Sept. 9, 2019, the Maryland Heights Trail in the Harpers Ferry National Historical Park will be closed on weekdays for the removal of diseased trees, which have the … Read more
Nearly 160 years after John Brown raided the federal arsenal at Harpers Ferry, the National Park Service is welcoming the gift of another 13 acres that help tell Brown’s story. The American Battlefield Trust purchased property known as Allstadt’s Corner, which includes Allstadt’s Ordinary, and transferred it to Harpers Ferry National Historical Park. The donation … Read more
